Dear Bellarmine Families,
Welcome to the Bellarmine University community! I am so pleased that you have chosen Bellarmine as the place where your students will continue their educations and personal growth.
College is a time of transformation. At Bellarmine, we provide a challenging, yet supportive, environment of ethical awareness and academic excellence that is designed to prepare your students for a fulfilling life of leadership and service.
You may find your relationship with your children in transformation as well, as they take on more responsibility for themselves and stretch for greater independence.
This newsletter is here to help — by keeping you up to date on the many opportunities, events and developments on our campus during the coming academic year, and by giving you some insight into what your students may be experiencing and feeling. Please let us hear from you, too. We hope this will be a valuable conversation as you and your freshmen begin an important new phase in your lives.
Again, welcome to Bellarmine!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph J. McGowan,
President
Bellarmine Welcomes Class of 2013!
We are proud to say that Bellarmine continues to grow as we welcome the class of 2013. This year's incoming freshmen class topped out at just over 600 students, a record-breaking number for Bellarmine. Click here for more information about the class of 2013.
To see pictures of Crossroads, Move-In Day, Convocation, and other events, check out the Parent Association facebook page. In addition, check the Bellarmine photos page for the latest available pictures and videos of campus events.
Bellarmine Gets Bigger
Growth and excellence at Bellarmine extends not only to the student body but to the campus as well. All over campus, residence halls, classroom areas, food service facilities, and faculty departments are being constructed, expanded and updated. Click here to read construction updates.
"Let's Give'em Something to Talk About": Bellarmine in the News
Recently, Bellarmine was reviewed in the 2010 edition of the Princeton review guidebook, which reviews only 371 of the nation's 2,500 colleges and universities, and described Bellarmine as "demanding in academic excellence," and a "premier college." To find the full evaluation of Bellarmine by the Princeton review, as well as other exciting information about Bellarmine, click here.
(Shirley Eikhard)
Canvee Music (SOCAN)/Lynn Jacobs Publishing & Associates—BMI.
What Do You Mean You Can't Tell Me His Grades?
A Primer for Parents: Understanding FERPA
Many parents have heard the term "FERPA" used but may have never been told exactly what it means. To learn about FERPA and how it affects you and your student, click here.
H1N1 Virus Awareness: Keeping Your Student Healthy
As you have no doubt learned from the news media, the H1N1 virus has caused illness throughout the United States during the normally flu-free summer months, and public health officials are preparing for the possibility of an epidemic this fall. To find out how Bellarmine is preparing for this situation, click here.
The "High Stakes" Course: Biology 108 Human Anatomy and Physiology
Also known as "Anat/Phys," or "A&P," this rigorous class is designed for Nursing and Health Science majors, but it's open to all members of the student body. Often, many freshmen enroll in this course and are taken by surprise by the depth and intensity of the course material. If your student is enrolled in Biology 108, and you'd like to hear more about it from A&P professor Paul Kiser, click here.
Roommates 101: What to do When Your Dorm Room Doesn't Feel so "Roomie"
The Residence Life office does its best to match students who are compatible; however, roommate conflicts are inevitable, especially, when many students have never shared a bedroom in the past. Families are often the first to hear about problems between roommates. To read advice from Jessica Randall, Assistant Director of Residence Life, about how to handle roommate concerns, click here.
"Baby, You Can Drive My Car": Three Commuters Pass on Their Advice
Often, parents and students alike assume that commuting—s opposed to living on campus—will ease their student's transition into college life. In many ways, that assumption can prove true, and commuting can be advantageous. In other ways though, commuting requires the student to walk a delicate (and often strenuous) line between campus involvement and home life. For advice and information about commuter students from three students who've been there — Brittany Berttram, Jessica Ketterer, and Staci Campton — click here.
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Work It: The Employed Freshman
Many students work part time while going to college. However, work should not interfere with time spent attending class, studying, and developing strong relationships on campus. "Make school your first job as a freshman," Ann Zeman, Director of Career Development and Counseling, advises employed freshmen. For more information about balancing work and academics from Ann, click here.
Doing Double Duty: Work-Study Program
If you son or daughter receives an offer to become a work-study student, please encourage him or her to accept this offer. The federally financed program called "Work Study" offers certain financial awards and academic advantages. To read information about the workstudy program from Heather Boutell, Director of Financial Aid, click here.
Setting Financial Boundaries: The "Emergency Only" Credit Card
You've sent your son or daughter off to college with everything they need to be successful in the classroom — a new set of textbooks, all of the essentials they need for their residence hall room, maybe even a new laptop. But did you also send your freshman off to campus with a credit card? To read advice about college students and credit cards from Erica Osborne, Developmental Advisor, click here.
"There's No Place Like Home": How to Help Your Student Deal with Homesickness
The transition to college is oftentimes filled with excitement and anticipation, both for students and their parents. A big, wide future awaits, one that is filled with meeting lots of new friends, exploring and learning about oneself, and gaining knowledge that will be applied for years to come. But leaving home and adjusting to new surroundings, people, and demands can pose challenges. To read advice from Amy Wendell, Psy.D, Assistant Director of the Counseling Center, on how to help your student deal with homesickness, click here.
(L.Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, & Edgar Allen Woolf) Copyright MCMXXXIX in U.S.A. by Loew's Incorporated.
The Hometown Sweetheart: A Major Part of Dealing with Freshman Year
Many freshmen leave Mom and Dad when they go off to college. Almost as many leave behind the person they dated in high school. Often these relationships present the college freshmen with major dilemmas. In this article, I have recounted some typical scenarios regarding the boyfriend/girlfriend back home. We never want to reduce any students to stereotypes, but those of us who have worked with freshmen for years have seen these relationships often fall into one of four major patterns. If you're concerned about your student dealing with a similar situation, click here, for advice from Dr. Catherine Sutton, Dean of Academic Advising.
Campus Ministry
The Center for Campus Ministry, Vocation, and Service has launched a new initiative within Division of Student Affairs. As part of the Student Development Center, we will be working with the EDGE program, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Career Development Office on programs to encourage students to think more intentionally about what God is calling them to do with their lives. For more about this initiative and campus ministry from Melanie Prejean-Sullivan, Director of Campus Ministry, click here.
Campus Connections: Helping Your Student Get Engaged In the Bellarmine Community
The camp fires at Crossroads have been extinguished, "Welcome Week" activities are in full swing, and your son or daughter has survived the first week of classes. Often, after two weeks filled with excitement and new adventures, roommate conflicts begin to occur, reality replaces visions of grandeur, and homesickness sets in, leaving many students pondering, "What now?" To read advice from Patrick Englert, Director of Student Engagement, about ensuring your student's success by promoting campus involvement, click here.
Dr. Rhodes' Reads
In each newsletter, Dr. Fred Rhodes, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, will recommend a book for parents as they adjust to their students' transitions. Dr. Rhodes first recommendation is Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years. To read Dr. Rhodes' summary of the book, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 26:
International Student Reception, Hilary's, 5pm
August 27:
Involvement Fair, Quad, 11am - 12pm
August 27:
Game Knight, Couch Area (Horrigan), 6-8pm
August 29:
Mud Volleyball Tournament, SuRF Center, 11am
August 29:
Campus-wide Scavenger Hunt, Anniversary Hall Lawn, 9pm
September 7:
Labor Day, NO CLASSES
September 11:
BAC Welcome Back Dance
October 10-13:
Fall Break, NO CLASSES
October 23-25:
Family Weekend
Do you or your student have a question about?
Living in the residence halls?
Leslie Maxie-Ashford, Director, Residence Life; 502-473-3000, lmaxie-ashford@bellarmine.edu
Trouble with a class or an assignment, or making a change in class schedules?
Dr. Catherine Sutton, Dean of Advising and Director of Academic Resource Center; 502-452-8071, csutton@bellarmine.edu
How to find something fun to do on campus?
Sarah Fromm, Assistant Director of Student Activities; 502-452-8433, sfromm@bellarmine.edu
Financial Aid?
Alie Spahiu, Fianancial Aid Assistant 502-452-8124, aspaihu@bellarmine.edu
Workstudy?
Jennifer Likes, Financial Aid Counselor, 202, 502-452-8134, jlikes@bellarmine.edu
Getting a terrific summer job or internship?
Ann Zeman, Director of Career Development and Counseling, 502-452-8151, azeman@bellarmine.edu
Todd Reale, Assistant Dean, Career Services and Experiental Learning; 502-452-8242, treale@bellarmine.edu
Joining an intramural sports team?
Chuck Vogt, Director of Intramural sports; 502-452-8348, cvogt@bellarmine.edu
What to do when sick or injured?
Alice Kimble, Director, Campus Recreation and Health Services; 502-452-8493, makimble@bellarmine.edu
Who to talk to about personal problems?
Dr. Gary Petiprin, Director of Counseling Center; 502-452-8480, gpetiprin@bellarmine.edu
Studying abroad?
Hannah Holler Egea, Study Abroad Advisor; 502-452-8423, hholler@bellarmine.edu
Spiritual programs, service, or faith-based networks?
Dr. Melanie -Prejean Sullivan, Director of Campus Ministry and Service; 502-452-8051, mpsullivan@bellarmine.edu
Disability Accommodations?
Ronda Purdy, Coordinator of Disability Services; 502-452-8480, rpurdy@bellarmine.edu
A more general question about life on campus?
Helen Grace Ryan, Dean of Students; 502-452-8426, hryan@bellarmine.edu